Teachers’ notes This resource is split into two small investigations Introduction Main session Investigation 1
Investigation 1
· Ensure children understand what is ·
Show the children the main question to be investigated.
meant by faces, edges and vertices
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The brainstorming session could be used as a whole class activity or · Show the children how many faces, the worksheet could be printed out for group or paired work.
edges and vertices make up a cube.
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Model how the children are to gather their data by selecting a 3­D · Give them the opportunity to count shape from the selection on the left of the screen.
the faces, edges and vertices of a ·
Using the controls on the right of the screen the children can count the square based pyramid, by clicking number of faces edges and vertices of each shape by clicking on on the shape to count them up. (As them.
they click a face/edge/vertex it will ·
The controls on the bottom right allow the shape to rotate quickly, change colour so that they can keep slowly or to be stopped and then rotated manually. track of what they have counted)
· Have them write the data into the Investigation2
table before clicking on the triangular ·
Show the children the main question to be investigated.
reveal buttons to check their ·
The brainstorming session could be used as a whole class activity or answers the worksheet could be printed out for group or paired work.
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Investigation 2
· The animation shows the children what 2D shapes make up the faces of a triangular prism, then what 2D shapes make up the faces of an hexagonal prism.
· Allow the children to discuss what these two shapes have in common before revealing the answer. Model how the children have to make a polyhedral chain by placing the shapes so that each one is next to a shape with a matching face.
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On the left of the screen if a ‘What to do box’ when this is clicked on it reminds the children of how to complete the activity.
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A square should be clicked on within the chain and then a 3D shape should be selected to be placed in that square.
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The shape can be rotated so that the different faces can be seen clearly.
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When the children are happy with their chain they should click ‘finish’ then they will have the opportunity to print their chain out. Plenary
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Fill in the table of results
Ask the children to offer suggestions for patterns within the results.
Encourage children to come out to the board and explain their findings using diagrams and jottings.
Ask the children to test their theory by predicting the number of edges an icosidodecahedron has when they are told that it has 32 faces and 30 vertices.